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AN 



ADDRESS 



TO THE 



MEMBERS 



OF THE 



MERRIMACK HUMANE SOCIETY, 




AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY MEETING 



in 



NEWBURYPORT, 



Sept. 1, 1807. 




BY SAMUEL SPRING, A. M. 



Printed by EDMUND M. BLUNT, 

TOP, WILLIAM SAWYER Sf CO. NO. 3, MARKET-SQUARE, 

VEWBURYPOUT, 

1807. 




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Brown Unii?-er 



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AT a special meeting of the Trustees of the Merrimack Humane 
Society, Sept. 1, 1807, 

Voted, That Micajah Sawyer, M. D. William Bart let and William 
Woart, Esquires, be a committee to present the thanks of the Trus- 
tees to the Rev. Samuel Spring, for the excellent Address delivered 
by him before the Society this day, and to request a copy for the 
press. 

Attest, 

Wm. Woart, Rcc. Sec. 



Gentlemen, 

With deference to your approbation of the Address, -mply 
with the request, hoping that under your patronage it will prove in 
a measure useful. Wishing the exertions of the Society may be 
wisely directed and crowned with success, 

J am, gentlemen, uith sentiments of 
respect and esteem, 

your obedient servant, 

SAMUEL SPRING. 



Micajah Sawyer, 
William Bartlet, 

Wl L LI A M Wo ART, KsqUirCS. 



« THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF." 

THIS, agreeably to infallible exposition, 
points out the duty of one man to another. — 
Next to loving God supremely, we are under 
inviolable obligations to regard our fellow men, 
as ourselves, with equality of affection. Love, 
properly expressed, is the end of the law. 

By treating this command correctly, while 
we necessarily refer philosophical subjects and 
physical disquisitions to the medical faculty, it 
is hoped, my Humane Brethren, we shall meet 
the design of the anniversary and the acceptance 
of informed minds. 

An interesting inquiry suggested by the 
command and the occasion is this ; what are 
the grounds of moral obligation, which require 
us to regard ourselves and our fellow creatures 
with equal affection ? For all good men love to 
apprehend the basis of the requisition, with 
which they comply. The happiness of inform- 
ed christians, who ascertain the reasons of the 
divine command, exceeds the happiness of oth- 
ers, who obey only because they are command- 
ed. 

A proper apprehension of the reasonable- 
ness of inspired injunctions, is a species of know- 
ledge which sweetens the christian's cup, and 
accelerates his motion in the path of duty. 



6 

* * • • 

One answer to the inquiry with which all 
good men concur, is this ; we are obliged to re- 
gard our fellow men, as ourselves, with equal 
affection, because they are equally valuable. 
They are like ourselves in all interesting respects 
and relations. Have we the most exquisitely 
organized bodies, which are capable of the keen- 
est sensations of pleasure and pain? So have 
they. Have we rational minds capable of more 
i'utu re knowledge than is now realized by all 
the angels of light ? So have they. Are we pro- 
bationers for an endless state of existence ? So 
are they. Have we, in a word, immortal souls, 
capable of the sublime pleasures of religion, in 
the present state, and of the ineffable and in- 
creasing enjoyment of God forever, in the man- 
sions of bliss ? So have they congenial souls. If 
an exchange were possible ; if our souls were in 
their bosoms and their souls in our bosoms, ob- 
ligation to mutual offices of kindness and friend- 
ship would be the same. The consequence is in- 
evitable, that if we ought to love ourselves, that 
ive ought also to love our fellow men with equal 
ardor. For both they and we are moral agents, 
the subjects of equal capacities and influenced 
by similar motives. To say we ought to re- 
gard them with the same quality of affection, 
but not to the same degree, is human assertion, 
in the face of Christ's command, and cannot 



I 



7 

4 a * • 

be supported. The objection to the doctrine of 
equal love on the principle of unequal advanta- 
ges is groundless. For as a man while deprived 
of health is not bound to provide for himself, 
as he is when healthy and vigorous ; thus, in 
consequence of the distance of his neighbor he 
is neither able nor bound to assist him so much 
as when he is present: the same reasoning ap- 
plies to one's ownself. Man is always at home 
with himself for the purpose of self-preserva- 
tion. But this difference of advantages does 
not interfere with the law of benevolence or 
good will. " For it is the willing mind that is 
accepted, according to what a man hath and 
not according to what he hath not." 

Another reason of great weight why we 
ought to regard our fellow men as ourselves, 
with equal affection, is the divine example or 
standard of rectitude. God is impartial. He 
is no respecter of persons. The creator of all 
men loves them equally. He has taken them 
from the same mass of earth, and breathed in- 
to them the breath of life and made them living 
souls. Further to induce the love of equality 
enjoined by Christ, we have his impressive ex- 
ample. Christ tasted death for every man, and 
without any exception graciously offers salva- 
tion to all the human race. It is the sinner's 
personal aversion to holiness, and not the divine 



decree nof any thing else whatever, which ren* 
ders him obnoxious to God's righteous displea- 
sure and will exclude him from the kingdom of 
heaven. " For whosoever will, let him take the 
water of life freely" is the glorious proclamation 
of the gospel. 

Finally, while contemplating the grounds 
of equal affection, we not only recite the ex- 
press command, " Thou shalt love thy neighbor 
as thyself;" but we appeal to the hearts of all 
good men, who live to glorify God by obedience, 
whether they do not consider their fellow crea- 
tures as themselves in different capacities and 
spheres of action ? This divine theory of bene- 
volence, seeing the command is express and ad- 
mits no alternative, must meet the approbation 
of every benevolent heart. For when we are 
presented with a solitary stranger, who is desti- 
tute of all the comforts and necessaries of life, 
who lies prostrate under insupportable calami- 
ties, trembling on the verge of time, are we not 
urged and compelled, like the friendly Samari- 
tan, to consider him our own flesh, and to treat 
him with that kindness in all respects, which, in 
similar circumstances we should wish to receive 
from others ? 

The law of love binds nation to nation, 
tribe to tribe, family to family, and one man to 
another. We are under sacred obligations to 



9 

• • • • 

be mutual friends, and to reciprocate the high 
advantage of impartial benevolence, both in 
prosperity and adversity. No man is made for 
a solitary, insulated department, any more than 
the head is designed to act separately from the 
body, or the sun only to illume himself and leave 
the world in darkness. He who dissociates him- 
self from others, in point of common in teres t* 
and lives only to himself, is hostile both to God 
and man. Accordingly, saith the spirit, to 
mortify this prevailing, seminal lust of the hu- 
man heart, and to inculcate the duty of mutual 
affection, " Let no man seek his own, but every 
man another's wealth ;" and to press home the 
duty of christian sympathy, he adds, " And 
whether one member suffer, all the members 
suffer with it, and one member be honored, all 
the members rejoice with it." 

O how beautiful and heavenly is the har- 
mony of souls ! It casts an anchor of hope for 
the helpless children of misfortune and distress. 
For a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is 
born for adversity. Who ought not to preserve 
his own life and to fly from the too hasty king 
of terrors ? And who ought not to relieve a 
neighbor when arrested by his untimely grasp ? 
Life is sweet and precious : and what can a man 
give in exchange for his soul ! 

B 



10 

• • • • 

Having ascertained the basis of moral ob- 
ligation, which connects man with man, by mu- 
tual benevolence and leads us to anticipate mil- 
lennial harmony and celestial enjoyment, we 
of course, on this auspicious occasion, realize 
the advantage of several appropriate deduc- 
tions and reflections. 

If we ought to love our fellow men as our- 
selves, with equality of affection, we infer the 
peculiar blessing of divine revelation. Christ is 
the light of the world. But alas ! how many 
millions of the human race are now enveloped 
in heathenish darkness and ignorance ! For lack 
of gospel vision, the greater part of mankind are 
now in a barbarous perishing state. They ne- 
ver saw nor heard of Christ, the cheering sun of 
righteousness, who clearly points out to us the 
way of salvation. But instead of impeaching 
divine providence, which makes the wide differ- 
ence between us and the heathen, in point of 
advantages, let us be humble and adore so- 
vereign mercy. For God hath ordained it so, 
while neither heathens nor christians have any 
personal claim to the least favor. The volume 
of nature is more than they deserve, and the vo- 
lume of inspiration much more than we deserve ; 
for all men by nature are the enemies of God, 
the children of wrath, and deserve his endless 
indignation; That God, therefore, leaves mil- 



11 

• • • • 

lions of the human race destitute of special re- 
velation, with minds and hearts as black as 
night, to persist and perish in their sins is not 
wonderful ; but to offer light and salvation at 
the expence of Christ's blood to sinners, and fi- 
nally to renew their hearts and grant them sal- 
vation, is truly wonderful, and fills heaven with 
the deepest amazement. It is the matchless 
grace of God, in man's salvation, which sub- 
limes the hearts of angels and tunes their golden 
harps to celebrate his praise. To the Lord 
Jesus Christ, the fountain of grace, we are in- 
debted for the light of the gospel and for all hu- 
mane institutions and christian establishments 
of w r hich the heathen are ignorant. Let us be 
deeply humble and thankful, while we tell the 
proud and foolish infidel, that it is the bible 
which makes the astonishing difference between 
the barbarous nations and devout christians. 
AH humane and christian institutions are found- 
ed on Christ the rock of ages, and lighted by the 
lamp of revelation. On this immoveable basis 
we rest, and from this immense fountain of light 
we receive direction and instruction. There is 
no kindness we can bestow, no favor we can 
confer, no distress we can relieve, no calamity 
we can prevent, no suspended animation we can 
restore, and no life we can save, which is not 
required by the gospel. As he is chargeable 



12 

with the life of his neighbor, who neglects prop* 
er means to save it, so he who prevents the 
death of a drowning child, by plunging, with 
proper motives, into the stream, must be consi- 
dered his ransom, and will not lose his reward. 
The gospel, which prefers mercy before sacri- 
fice, has not only taught us to make a proper es- 
timate of the soul and the season of probation, 
but by its luminous Influence what methods are 
best calculated to recal the dying to the place 
of repentance, prayer and pardon. The gospel 
not only inculcates resuscitation, but displays 
the doctrine of the resurrection. 

How eligible and useful then is a Humane 
Society, furnished with appropriate advantages 
to prevent evil and do good by seasonable ex-r 
ertions ? What noble bosom does not beat with 
high desire to be the successful instrument of 
restoring to society a valuable member, to weep- 
ing parents a promising son, and of raising to 
heaven one, not only tending fast to a watery 
grave, but to the pit of destruction ? Is not this 
a possible, is it not a probable means to convert 
a sinner from the error of his ways, to save a 
soul from death and hide a multitude of sins. 
Who can refuse to repent after being recalled to 
the duty from a state of vital suspension and 
insensibility which is the last and nearest resem- 
blance of death ? And what christian rescued 



13 

• • • • 

from the grasp of premature death will not dou- 
ble his diligence, redeem his time and finish his 
neglected duty. Surely the good man, who 
finds himself signally rescued from the sable 
shroud and closing grave, will do with his might 
whatever his hand findeth to do. His last ex- 
ertion for Christ and souls will be the greatest* 
He will effect much in a short time. His last 
life will be the best. He will abound in the 
w r ork of the Lord. He will live to die ; that 
living and dying he may be the Lord's. 

The design of the institution w r e now cel- 
ebrate is so manifestly benevolent, and the pros- 
pect of utility so great, without interfering with 
any other laudable establishments, that we have 
po objections to fear from an invidious world, 
except those which we needlessly and criminally 
furnish. If we conduct agreeably to our eleva- 
ted profession ; if we as a society and as indivi- 
dual members, establish and maintain the cha- 
racter of humane agents, of real christians, all 
good men will approve our object, and the wick- 
ed will in vain attempt to disprove or slander it. 
God will own and prosper us, and the blessing 
of many souls ready to perish will be thankfully 
realized. 

In this lovely attitude of the Humane So- 
ciety, what good man wishes to erase his name 
from the Register; and what good man not yet 



14 

• • • • 

a member, does not desire to have his name en- 
rolled immediately ? 

But, my brethren, the interest of the insti- 
tution claims uniform and able support. 

Let me therefore say, if while we assume 
the elevated style of a Humane Society, we re- 
lax, admit loose, irregular characters, neglect 
the means with which we are generously fur- 
nished to afford relief to the subjects of calam- 
ity ; if we content ourselves with form and pa- 
rade, and live in a sensual manner ; if we either 
intemperately indulge the cup which drowns 
more males, not to say females, than the ocean, or 
if, for the sake of lucre or any other base motive, 
we tempt and induce others to be thirsty for ar- 
dent spirits ; if we any of us follow the example 
of those who disregard the best interest of their 
bodies and souls, and do not exert our abilities 
to suppress vice and support virtue and chris- 
tian regularity in every form, what, I ask^ do we 
more than other inhuman mortals ? What more 
than to act the most hostile part to our own 
souls and the souls of our fellow men ? " For," 
evil examples as well as " evil communications 
corrupt good manners/' And who, except the 
adversary in the garb of a luminous angel, can 
more successfully extend the dominion of sin, 
than those who profess to have the humane and 
christian spirit, but in practice discard it ? For 



15 

• • • • 

temptation would have no influence if destitute 
of motive to profit, honor or pleasure. Sin al- 
wa3 r s allures by the promise of superior advan- 
tage, to the open heart and ear of the sinner. 
Shall any of us destroy ourselves and be the in- 
struments of killing the souls of others, while we 
solemnly engage to exert our abilities in saving 
their bodies from untimely graves ? God forbid ! 
But we turn from this painful posture of 
things to that which must administer gratitude 
and support to benevolent souls. Have we not 
peculiar reason to congratulate each other and 
all humane institutions, on account of late dis- 
coveries which Providence affords for the restor- 
ation of drowned persons and others apparently 
destitute of life ? Though the common maxim 
which appreciates the wisdom of every succeed- 
ing generation is often misapplied, yet, it must 
be granted on careful review, that this genera- 
tion excels in discovering methods to rekindle 
the latent spark of human life, and recal the ap- 
parently dead to life and activity. Much honor 
is justly due to the College of Physicians ; not 
however for raising the dead or for any operation 
congenial with a miracle (which is an event never 
effected by the established laws of Nature) but 
for the discovery of Nature's method to restore 
the dying or to recruit the apparently extin- 
guished lamp of life. By their invaluable dia- 



16 

• • • • 

coveries and judicious exertions they have as- 
sisted nature to restore hundreds and thousands 
to their relatives and the public, whom the an- 
cients with blind decision would have consigned 
to the tomb. Alas ! alas ! over the slumbering 
dust of anterior ages we shed, and cannot sup- 
press oiir involuntary tears, because! they igno- 
rantly buried people alive^ The ancients used 
to say, " there is hope as long as there is ap- 
parent life ;" but we go farther and say, with 
success, in some cases, there is hope in despair, 
or even when there is no appearance except 
death. The improvement is great. Hence see- 
ing none except the Creator can define life, or 
discover the particular place and attitude of its 
existence, during the suspension, long exertions 
to recal the retired, latent spark, have often 
been successful to the astonishment of hopeless 
friends and spectators. Blessed be God, the 
humane register of signal restorations, furnishes 
even the languid, fainting mother, with grounds 
to hope, that she shall hear her passive, mo- 
tionless infant break silence and ask for breath 
and life in the common form, and equally en- 
courages the Faculty to persevere in their exer- 
tions to restore animation and vital energy to the 
drowned, who have been in a state of submer- 
sion during several hours. " This improvement 
in the noble art of resuscitation," says a learned 



17 

• • • • 

prelate " does honor to the present age. For 
it does not appear that any thing like serious in- 
vestigation into the subject of removing suspen- 
sion in vital action, much less that any method- 
ical plans for the purpose were adopted 'till 
1767." 

Here we are happily constrained to remark 
and record the recent goodness of God, both to 
the souls and bodies of men. For like the mis- 
sionary spirit, which has lately pervaded Chris- 
tendom, and already explored some of the dark 
regions of the earth, and the distant isles of the 
sea ; so the humane spirit within a few years has 
erected its hallowed tabernacles and houses of 
reception for the children of distress, in every 
section of the globe* Let him that readeth un- 
derstand and thankfully mark the coexistence, 
the direction and confluence of these limpid 
streams of living water, which flow from the di- 
vine fountain. God is now doing great things 
for the information and reformation of man. 

The first humane society was instituted at 
Amsterdam, in the year 1767- The laudable 
example was soon followed by the Magistrates 
of Milan and Venice, in 1768 : by Hamburg in 
1771 : by Paris in 1772 : by London in 1774 : 
by Philadelphia in 1780 : by Boston in 1785 ; 
and by Newburyport and the vicinity, in the 
C 



18 

• • • • 

year 1802. There are many other recent ex- 
amples of the institution in Hudson's Bay, Af- 
rica and different places, which we omit in this 
summary. These examples are sufficient to e- 
vince, that God, agreeably to his covenant, is 
preparing the mind of man for the glorious dis- 
play of his grace. It is our privilege to live near 
the termination of the dark period, which has 
long enveloped the world and the church ; and 
as near the commencement of millenial light, 
which divine predictions and correspondent e- 
vents permit and induce us to believe, will soon 
rise and diffuse the most benign influence. Both 
humane and missionary establishments are har- 
bingers of the day. They are calculated to im- 
prove the mind, to sweeten and meliorate the 
temper of man, at least to operate as altera- 
tives and preparatives, in the course of Provi- 
dence. The Lord has pledged his veracity by 
his promise, and he will soon suppress and expel 
the inhumanity and hostility of man, and fill the 
world with benevolence and felicity. He will 
make all things new, by making men his friends 
and friends to each other. Happy prospect ! 

Strong inducements, gentlemen, to conti- 
nue and increase our laudable exertions are not 
wanting. The liberal hand of contribution, in 
connexion with our annual tax, has enabled us 
to provide suitable apparatus to restore vital 



19 

• • • • 

energy to cold, breathless mortals, and to erect 
convenient buildings upon yonder dangerous 
shore, for the reception and temporary relief of 
shipwrecked mariners, exhausted by the fury of 
the troubled sea. Our first exertions have not 
been made in vain. They have been crowned 
with success, as subsequent report will testify. 
The prospect of future utility, considering the 
peculiarity of our location, is an ample motive 
to persevere. The dangerous margin of our wa- 
ters is extensive, and calls for unremitting vigi- 
lance, in order to meet, in the most humane man- 
ner, the exigencies of seamen ready to perish. 

Your life boat, constructed after the En- 
glish model, it is confidently hoped, when com- 
mitted to a skilful pilot, with disciplined hands, 
will answer the expectation of the public, and 
amply reward the generous subscribers of the 
^establishment. It must prove a little ark— 

A memorable instance of salvation by means 
of a life boat, and one equally memorable from 
a hundred instances of destruction in conse- 
quence of the want of it, will be acceptable, it 
is presumed, to the audience. 

" Lately, on the English shore, nine vessels 
were wrecked, and the crews, consisting of one 
hundred and one persons, were all saved by the 
life boat, from immediate death/' Who, while 
reading the narrative, can restrain the tears of 
gratitude ? 



20 

The other instance is as follows : In 1770, 
thirty vessels were cast upon the sands at one 
time near the British shore, and all the crews, 
consisting of three hundred persons, perished to 
a man, with the most painful circumstances of 
suffering. For many of them were seen hang- 
ing upon the rigging and yard arms the whole 
course of the day ; and the next morning, seve^ 
ral remained in the same situation without the 
possibility of receiving the least assistance. 
" One of these life boats," says the report, " might 
have saved the whole number/' 

To impress the mind with the importance of 
faithful efforts,we are favored with signal instan- 
ces of success by other humane establishments. 
" In the course of ten months from the humane 
establishment, at Paris, twenty-three out of thir- 
ty persons were recovered from drowning/' The 
Royal Humane Society of London, in 1805, had 
restored to life, in thirty-one years, two thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-nine persons, nearly one 
hundred each year. By the annual increase of 
the number of restored persons, it is probable 
the institution is now hailed and blessed by the 
thankful voice of three thousand restored per- 
sons. how deeply impressive ! It is the voice 
of joy and gladness. " It is the voice of a great 
multitude ; and as the voice of many waters/* 
And if by God's grace they were not only saved 



21 

• • • • 

from death,, but raised to divine life, the joyful 
shout of angels is like the voice of mighty thun- 
der. " For there is more joy in heaven over one 
sinner that repents, than over ninety and nine 
just persons who need no repentance/' 

For the information of those who cannot read- 
ily command the reports of humane societies, and 
for the sake of our children, whose minds we wish 
to impress on the occasion, we shall be excused 
w r hile relating one or two signal and instructive 
instances of restoration. " I was called," says 
the Narrator, " to an apparently dead man. I 
began the process of resuscitation, and persever- 
ed ineffectually for three hours. In the course of 
another hour I enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing 
the cheeks flushed, languid pulsation and con- 
vulsions which terminated with a wild stare, and 
he muttered, "Where ami, and where have I 
been f In a few days he was perfectly restored 
and conveyed to his wife and children. Seven 
hours perseverance scarcely afforded a ray of 
hope ; so that my providential success holds out 
encouragement to Medical Practitioners, in the 
most desperate cases of suspended animation. 
" Weary not in well doing/' Let us hope while 
others despair. The remaining instance will be 
retained. The deeply affected Parent says, " An 
infant of my own had all the signs of death. I 
tried for' four hours to restore animation, when 



it was proposed to lay him out ; but I deter- 
mined to persevere. I put him into the warm 
bath, still continuing stimulating methods. In 
about 20 minutes he sighed and opened an eye. 
A cordial was given, which in a little while was 
swallowed. By degrees vital heat was diffused. 
He was put into a warm bed, slept some hours, 
and by the bk-ssing of God was perfectly restor- 
ed/' Let us do likewise, when called. The Par- 
ent closes the narrative thus : *' May providence 
long preserve the life of Dr, Hawes, a life that 
is so truly valuable to his country and indeed 
to all mankind" — for his discoveries. 

The obligation, the design and salutary efi* 
fects of humane institutions are now before the 
assembly. And what wait we for ? The answer 
is anticipated by every correct mind. We wait 
for the divine blessing. For we need it to es- 
tablish, to direct our benevolent measures, and 
to crown them with success. It is said with in^ 
spired pertinence, in a qualified connexion, that 
* money answers all things," but in this connex- 
ion we need more. We need the effective smiles 
of God, who wounds and heals, who kills and 
makes alive ; who places one person cold and 
motionless at the bottom of the flood, and ap- 
points another to plunge into it, and bring him 
up from a watery grave ; and others also on the 
trembling, desponding shore to relume the dying 



23 

• • • • 

spark of life, and restore him to his grateful, 
fainting friends. But to realize in this manner 
the restoring agency of God, who has irreversibly 
fixed the bounds of life, we also need the effec- 
tual prayer and concurrent influence of all good 
people, that we may use the appointed means. 
God's unalterable decrees never, never interfere 
with the diligent and effective use of means. — 
For he appoints the means as well as the end. 
" Except these abide in the ship we cannot be 
saved," is the infallible maxim of inspiration. 

If we feel suitably impressed with the util- 
ity of the humane institution ; if it is the object 
of our fervent daily prayers ; if we are willing to 
exert our abilities to recal the dying, that they 
may live and do good, and finish their course 
with joy, we shall be prospered. Urgent calls 
for humane exertions, within the limits of our 
watery vicinity, will be frequent, and christian 
concurrence with our measures in all respects is 
requisite and will not be denied. We however 
neither ask the loving wife, the indulgent parent 
nor tender sister for.pecuniary means to restore 
their dear connections from a watery grave ; but 
who will not cheerfully contribute to the relief 
of suffering, dying strangers and neighbours ? 
Yet even in this view of things, though the in- 
stitution requires much pecuniary support, we 
neither desire an Eagle nor a Cent which can be 



24 

• • • • 

more wisely appropriated in a different manner. 
It is the willing offering of. property, when it 
cannot be more judiciously applied, which Christ 
requires, and we surety desire no more. This 
will answer every purpose, and none can with- 
hold it, who loves himself and neighbour with e- 
qual affection. Let us only love ourselves cor- 
rectly, and our neighbour will invariably be treat- 
ed with christian attention and hospitality. The 
reason why we do not love our neighbours as 
ourselves is manifestly because we are destitute 
of impartial affection. With the love of equal- 
ity then, which corresponds with the value of its 
object, let us aid the design of the Humane So- 
ciety, remembering that Christ loves the boun- 
tiful benefactor; and says, " It is more blessed 
to give than so receive. The liberal man devis-* 
eth liberal things." 

As undisguised examples of that sublime 
charity enjoined by the command, which seek- 
eth not her own, and without which no action is 
acceptable in the sight of God, we shall name no 
characters except those who ornament the sacred 
register. Their impartial appearance was the 
real, genuine expression of their hearts. 

The simple, rural Patriarchs, in the most 
hazardous times, were men of heavenly love ; 
so were the humble Prophets ; and how shall we 
estimate the character of the Apostles, whose 



25 

• • • • 

love shook the basis of Jewish infidelity, shatter- 
ed the proud temples of Pagan idolatry and con- 
founded the adversary, by their successful sa- 
crifices to extend the influence of the gospel ? 
These were men of holy benevolence, and under 
Christ, their heavenly guide, were the founders 
of all the humane institutions and religious es* 
tablishments which distinguish Christians from 
cruel Pagans and hateful demons. These en- 
roled characters are the light of the world. A 
more excellent exemplar we cannot name, ex- 
cept Christ himself, who not only made man to 
gratify infinite benevolence, but upon his apos- 
tacy resigned himself to death, that man might 
live to honor God and enjoy the light of his coun- 
tenance forever. This glorious example let us 
follow, and make all our calculations with strict 
reference to the Great Day. For when Christ, 
who made the universal system — who stretched 
out the North over the empty place, and hung 
the world upon nothing — who still maintains the 
harmony of the shining spheres, shall shake the 
common centre and destroy the universal bal- 
lance, we shall need his friendship. At that 
awful crisis, when the voice of the Archangel 
and the trump of God shall rouse the countless 
dead, and eall them forth to judgment, when 
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and 
the ocean shall vanish like morning vapor, be- 



• • • • 

lore universal conflagration; then, except the 
approbation of God and conscience, what evi- 
dence of our integrity can be more valid, than 
the willing testimony of the children of release 
and restoration from untimely graves ? Let us 
therefore, seasonably secure it. Let us all obey 
Christ ; let us be as friendly to others as to our- 
selves ; let our hearts and hands be always open 
to the children of adversity and distress; let u& 
prevent untimely graves, by never confounding 
the living with the dead. " Thou shalt not kill," 
thou shalt not number the living with the dead 5 
k a paramount consideration. 

Finally, having greater advantages than 
many others, let us do better, and effectually 
reclaim some of the dying to a state of action? 
and by pious example, guide them safely to 
heaven. Then, at the restitution of all things, 
we shall joyfully meet and recognize them at 
the bar of God, and thankfully say, here Lord 
we are, and the children of release which thou 
hast given us. 

BRETHREN, SISTERS AND FRIENDS, 

Yvhile pilgrims and strangers among the 
living and dying ; while probationers for the eter- 
nal world ; while candidates for immortal light 
and glory, what higher employment can we de- 
sire than to be properly useful to the humane 
society, whose anniversary we now celebrate. 



APPENDIX, 



NEWBUB,¥PORT, JULYS, 1807. 
Dr. Nathaniel Bra i>st beet, 

Cor. Sec. to the Humane Society in Newburyport. 
5/71, 

YESTERDAY afternoon a son of Mr. Benjamin 
Choate, (a Ship Joiner of this town) eight years old, 
fejl from a stage, which was suspended from the stem 
/ f the ship "Maryland," lying at the end of the 
wharf of Moses Brown, Esq. a distance of twelve 
feet, and immediately disappeared. The accident 
was discovered from the cabin of the ship, and from 
the wharf; the alarm was given, and great exertions 
were made, by all present, to get to the child in boats. 
At this instant, Capt. Robert Inott, who was in the 
hold of the ship; hearing the noise, came upon deck, 
and being told " some one had fallen from the cabin 
window," rushed after, and leapt over the ta-ffaril rail 
of the ship, clearing the stern-stage, fell into the wa- 
ter at thedistance of nearly twenty feet from the taf- 
faril — and happily was enabled to seize the child, as 
he was sinking, to rise no more, having gone down 
twice before, and who then had settled about two feet 
from the surface of the water — and brought him to 
one of the boats which had pushed off, to his assist- 
ance and relief. 

It is here to be observed, that the current at the 
end of this wharf is very rapid, and the water very 
deep. W hen Capt. Inott rose, he found himself em^ 
barrassed very much in consequence of his long-coat- 
pockets filling with water, and the sleeves binding 
his arms — but by swimming with one hand, and sup- 
porting the child in the other, he thus safely placed 
him ia the boat, and I am happy to add, the child is 
now very well, although when taken up, he appeared 
exceedingly spent and exhausted. 



28 

• • • • 

While I have great pleasure in bearing testimony 
to the energies and active beaevolence of this gentle- 
man, I beg leave to congratulate the society on the 
success of his exertions in this instance, so honorable 
to himself and the cause of humanity. 

'Remaining with due consideration, fyc. 

THOMAS THOMAS. 



HAVERHILL, JUNE 18, 1807. 
SIR, 

ENCLOSED is a communication, handed t& 
me, to be delivered to the HuMxYne Society. — I 
veil recollect the public opinion of the risk Mr. 
Eeccom ran, in his great exertion to recover the boy 
by plunging himself into the river. The boy was 
sinking, and there is not the least doubt, had not Mr. 
B. instantaneously arrived, and grasped him with his 
extended arm, under water, he would have added to 
the list of the unfortunately drowned. Vital action 
was considerably diminished, but by immediate ex- 
ertion, he speedily recovered. — I doubt not the Trus- 
tees will take this communication under considera- 
tion and as the exertion was extraordinary, that they 
%vill grant a pecuniary reward, equal thereto. 

I am, Sir, yours respectively, 

NATHANIEL SALTONSTALL, 

Mr. B. is now in this town, and probably will be some time, 

Uoct. N. BRADSTREET, Cor. Sect'ry of the 
Merrimack Humane Society. 



THE undersigned, from motives of humanity, 
do make this solemn declaration ; that, on the tenth 
day of October last, a boy of ten years of age, son 
of Capt. Mathew Pettingale, was, by casualty, in 
the waters, near the middle of the river Merrimack, 
and apparently drowning ; at that critical moment, 
Mr, William 13. Beccom, by his extraordinary exer- 



1 



29 

iions, and a great risk of his life, plunged himself in- 
to the river, with his cloaths on, and under Divine 
Providence, saved the child from, a watery grave. — 
This very humane and dangerous ettempt, was most 
fortunately performed, under our immediate eyes, in 
witness, and to confirm the same, we have hereunto 
subjoined our names, at Haverhill, this tenth day of 
June, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven. 



To the President, fyc, of 
the Humane Society 



" f \ 



DAVID WEBSTER, Jim. 
JONATHAN ROWELL, 
SARAH WEBSTER, 
ANNA PETTINGILL. 



HAVERHILL, JUNE 25th, 1807. 

NICHOLAS COLBY, a carpenter, belonging 
to Haverhill, was, on the 24th of May last, return- 
ing with ten other persons in a boat from a vessel 
they had left at Newbury Bridge, when within four 
miles of this place, they were, by accident, upset 
about the middle of the river, and where the same 
was very wide, a violent wind at east made a very 
heavy sea ; the boat did not sink but kept on her 
side ; said Colby, with four others, reached the 
boat, they were not seen by any person on the shore, 
and no prospect of assistance, or chance was left for 
saving any of their lives, unless some one would ven- 
ture to swim on shore ; all declined but Colby; he 
disengaged himself from his waistcoat and shoes and 
said he would attempt it, and with great difficulty 
reached the shore, but so exhausted that it was some 
time before he could stand ; he had then to travel 
more than half a mile to the first house, and with 
difficulty procured a boat and a boy (a son of Capt. 
Ingersol) who ventured, altho it was very boisterous, 
to the persons who were holding to the side of the 
boat, four in number, and took them in : some were 
so exhausted as to have lost their reason for some 
time after they were on shore, and they all must 



30 

• • • • 

bar? lost their lives if Colby had not swam on shore \ 
six v/ere drowned. This same Mr. Colby, on the 
17th of this present month of June, was at work ia 
the ship yard, in this town, near the wharf, when he 
was alarmed by the cry of a boy (son of Mr, Ken- 
dall) that had fallen off the wharf, he ran to the 
wharf and found the boy was then sinking (the wa- 
ter was about 8 feet deep) he dove off and took him 
by the hair of his head, and brought him on shore, 

The foregoing statement of facts have been re- 
lated to me by some of the four persons saved on 
the boat, in the first instance, and in the last by per- 
sons who were there at the time he came on shore 
with the boy. 

I am 3 Gentlemen, yott>r most 

Obedient Humble Servant,. 

B. BARTLETT. 

The Trustees of the Merrimack Humane Society. 

The undersigned were saved in the boat, and we have no doubt, 
that under Providence, Nicholas Colby was the means of our lives 
being saved. 

MOSES KIMBALL, 
S1EPHEN WELLS, 
JOSEPH KIMBALL, 
NATHANIEL SO LEY, 



LIFE BOAT. 



THE Trustees of the Merrimack Humane Society, aided 
by the subscription of many gentlemen in Neivburyport and its vi- 
cinity, commenced the building of a Life Boat last fall. This 
boat is constructed according to the model of Mr. Greathead in 
England. The committee to build the boat have been delayed in 
completing the work, by the want of cork, suitable to the original 
plan. It is however to be hoped this impediment will soon be re- 
moved, and the boat, completed, be ready for the first instance that 
may occur for its use. 

It is contemplated to make it serviceable, not only in taking 
people from wrecks where they might otherwise perish, but to carry 
off a pilot to ships which arrive at the bar in storms that forbid a re- 
treat ; and thus afford the distressed mariner a relief, and property, 
the reward of hardy enterprise, a protection, which the continued 
shifting of our bar has made important. 







FUNDS OF THE MERRIMACK HUMANE SOCIETY. 

Br. The Merrimack Humane Society, in acc't. with Ebenezer Stacker, Treasurer, Cr 



180?. Dels. Cts. 

Feb. 18. To cash paid adverti- 
sing - ■ -- 2 

July 14. To do. did. Recording 
Secretary p. rect. 150 

July try. To do. paid D. Brad- 
ley's bill Cork for life boat, 56 

• 'To do. paid J. Cogswell's bill 

for a life jacket, 20 

• •To do, paid J. Folsom's bill, 
. .To do. paid Thomas & Whip- 
ple's bill music paper, 2 

•••To do. paid com. for building 
Jife boat for bills pd. by them 474 

• •To do. paid Jere Folsom*s bill 

for his attendance, 5 31 

• .To do. paid E. W. Allen's bill 

for advertising, 3 

To do. paid Benj. Edes, do. 1 

Cash delivered the committee for 

prem. adjudged W B.Beccom 15 
Do. for do, to Nicholas Colby 45 

Ballance, 1084 84 



8 35 



52 



1807. 


Dels. Cts. 


Jan. i. By ballance of ac- 




counts set! led this day, 


1259 93 


—By error in interest in for- 




mer account, 


19 79 


Sept. 24. By interest to this 




day 


53 07 


— By cash of Rec. Secretary, 


SO 35 


—By cash of do. 


483 83 



1847 2 



1847 



PROPERTY OF THE SOCIETY, 



Dolls. Cts. 
Ballance of the former Treasurer's account, - - - 1084 84 

Receipts of the present year, as far as they have been collected, 456 2Q 







Dolts. IS 


41 4 




DONATIONS. 




The Trustees acknowledge 


the receipt of the following Donations towards the 


building of a LIFE-BOAT, and 


purchasing Signal Colors for the Fort. 




Dels. Cts 




Dots. Cts. 


From Moses Brown, 


40 


YromRichard Pike, 


10 


Steph. Holland, 


7 


Z. & W. Cook, 


$ 


William. Bartlet, 


40 


William Wyer, jun. 


5 


Leonard Smith, 


15 


William Noyes, 


3 


A. & E. Wheelwright 


,15 


David Coffin, 


6 


John Greenlecf, 


30 


John Coombs, 


6 


Pilsbury & French, 


10 


Phillip Coombs,.jwv 


3 


John Peabody, 


10 


Thomas Carter, 


10 


Peter Le Breton, 


10 


Samuel A Otis, 


3 


Benjamin Wyatt, 


5 


Thomas Cary, jun. 


3 


Phillip Coombs, 


5 


George Jenkins, 


3 


Joshua Carter, 


5 


Paul Simpson, 


3 


Jonathan Gage, 


5 


Isaac Stone, 


3 


Edward Rand, 


5 


Elias Hunt, - 


5 





DONATIONS. 






Dols. Cts. 




Dols. Ctk 


i? rom John Pettingell, 


10 


FvomJere Wheelwright, 


3 


Edmund Kimball, 


s 


Peter Le Breton, jun. 


3 


Samuel Coffin, 


5 


Galen H. Fay, 


2 


Sexual Toppan, 


5 


Joseph Hoyt, 


6l 


Samuel Tenney, 


3 


John Pearson, 


5 


Isaac AdamSj 


5 


Thomas M. Clark, 


5 


Abner Wood, 


10 


Stephen Howard, 


3 


RobeH Jenkins, 


3 


Amos Tappan, 


3 


Micajah Sawyer, 


12 


Edmund Bartlet, 


2 


William Coombs, 


5 


William Davis, 


2 


Nicholas Johnson, 


5 


Charles C. Robateau, 


2 


Isaac Rand, 


5 


Samuel Nye, 


3 


Stephen Pilsbury, 


5 


Robert Follansbee, 


3 


James Kimball, 


3 


Oliver Osgood, 


3 


Sanborn & Osgood, 


3 


Daniel Webster &Co. 


10 


Francis Todd, 


3 


Benjamin Young, 


I 


Joseph Hooper, 


3 


Stephen Gale, 


1 


Burrill, Star & Gun* 


Samuel Fowler, jun. 


3 


nison, 


3 


Gee Colby, 


1 


Joseph Cutler, 


3 


Furber & Dole, 


1 


The painting was given by i 


Messrs. Bass, 


Pearsons, Noyes and Colby, 




OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 





MICAJAH SAWYER, M. D. President. 
NICHOLAS JOHNSON, Esq. Vice-President. 
JONATHAN GAGE, Esq. Treasurer. 
NATHANIEL BRADSTREET, M. B. Cor. Secrittary. 
WILLIAM WOART, Esq. Rec. Secretary. 



TRUSTEES. 



William. Coombs, Esq. 
Rev. Thomas Cary, 
Nathaniel Saltonstall, Esq. 
Samuel Nye, Esq. 
Rev. Isaac Smith, 
Rev. Daniel Dana, 
Rev. Samuel Spring, D. D. 
Rev. John Andrews, 
Kev. Joseph Dana, D. D. 
Rev. James Morss, 



Rev. Jonathan Allen, 
Rev. John Giles > 
Rev. Charles W. Milton, 
Dr. Bishop Norton, 
John Pearson, Esq. 
Thomas M. Clark, Esq. 
Daniel A. White, Esq,. 
Dea. Edward Dorr, 
Rev. John S. Popkin, 
William Bartlet, Esq* 



PREMIUMS ADJUDGED. 



To William B. Beecem for saving the Kfe of a boy, 
To Nicholas Colby for saving the lives of sundry persons. 
To Capt. Inott for saving the life of a boy— gyld medal, 



i5 dols. 
25 •• 
20 .. 



